With Broncos training camp over and two preseason games complete, we’re closing in on the first round of cuts (on Aug. 31) when the roster will go from 80 to 75, and we’re less than two weeks away from the major cuts, when the team will pick its 53-man roster.

I don’t expect the breakdown to be too different this year, and I’ve used this as a guide for my prediction below.

Among the potential changes:

** Larsen is now officially a fullback so the team will have to decide whether to carry four tailbacks plus Larsen, or to have only three true tailbacks, with Larsen as the fourth member of that group.

** Last year the Broncos kept 4 corners and 5 safeties. I see the numbers being reversed this year. Nate Jones is a cornerback first, but he can play safety as well.

** Another issue for the team to address is what to do with Elvis Dumervil. By Sept. 4, he will be several weeks into his rehab following surgery to repair his torn pectoral muscle and the team should know if it is worth saving a spot on the 53-man roster for him on the chance he could return by late November.

So … here’s my preliminary guess at which players will make the 53-man roster. The key word here is “GUESS.” We can all come back here in 12 days and laugh and laugh about how wrong I was.

Note: I’m a little unsure of what Josh McDaniels will ultimately decide to do at running back and wide receiver, particularly. Special teams will play a big role in if the team keeps one fewer running back and an additional linebacker, for example.

QBs: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, Tim Tebow (3)

OL: Ts Ryan Clady, Ryan Harris, D’Anthony Batiste, Tyler Polumbus; Gs Chris Kuper, Zane Beadles and Russ Hochstein; C J.D. Walton (8) (Note: This is a fluid situation because of Clady’s injury status; if he’s not 100 percent healthy to start the year, Broncos need an extra tackle. Seth Olsen made the 53-man roster last year but is down the depth chart this year).

RB: Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Lance Ball, Justin Fargas and Spencer Larsen (5) (Note: LenDale White is suspended the first four games of the season. This might be a very fluid position)

I’m not going to be happy if Stokley makes the team over Matt Willis… Why do we need to keep a backup slot WR who cant play outside at all and plays no special teams? He is done. Outside of the Bengals game last year he didn’t do anything at all… Matt Willis can play any position at WR and also plays ST’s. He deserves to make the team over Stokes.

Except I think Jason Hunter makes this team. I say start DOOM! on the PUP list or just move him to IR to make room… Also, no way Eric Olsen clears waivers, he’s on the team too…. not sure who’s spot he takes just yet.

I would rather keep SydQuan or Vaugn or Carter over Alphonso but sadly I think Phonz makes the team just due to his high draft pick… but that bonehead penalty on the kickoff just highlights that his head is not in the game.

I agree with you and think they need to cut Chris Baker… he’s playing horrible at NT.

I don’t think Ball makes the team and Larsen ends up being the 4th back… maybe this is Eric Olsen’s spot?

It’s possible one of the receivers starts out on the PUP list and we keep all you mention… if not, I cut Lloyd or Stokes to keep Willis… probably Stokes due to age and concussion issues.

I’m not impressed by Joe Mays yet… Is Darrell Reid out for the year? I don’t remember what his injury is.

Elfphonso Smith, from traded for a 1st round pick about 16 months ago to possible roster cut….nice move McDummy way to get value in that Cutler deal, you’re a stupid moron not even fit to run a Lemonade stand.

I think Matt Willis has a real shot at beating out Brandon Stokley as the Broncos’ #3 wide receiver. He could even be #2 opposite Eddie Royal, As some other posters have suggested, Brandon S. is a solid player but doesn’t play special teams. If a guy can play special teams that gives him an extra edge. However, LB I don’t know about. A lot depends on how soon Elvis the Doom recovers from his injury. None of us know how big a deal it was. Will he miss only the first 10 games or the whole season? That’s the big question.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.